Chapter 32

“Senior Liu!” Lin Qing held Liu Changsheng in high regard. He had already felt bad for making her stand guard for nothing the previous night, so he naturally wanted to make it up to her now.

“Are you here to eat too? What would you like? It’s on me this time!”

Liu Changsheng waved him off and sat down beside Song Qian. Qi Buyu, on the other hand, wasted no time. She dragged Lin Qing straight to the kitchen to place their orders.

Once they were gone, Song Qian looked up and met Liu Changsheng’s gaze squarely. The prayer beads in Liu Changsheng’s hand paused on the central one, which bore faint cracks.

“The man you took to the hospital just now… his name is Ji Jiusheng, right?”

Song Qian was a little surprised. Did Senior Liu know Uncle Ji?

“Yes.”

Liu Changsheng’s straight-backed posture softened slightly, and her whole body relaxed. Song Qian heard her laugh softly.

“You know him, Senior Liu?”

Liu Changsheng met her eyes, and even that eerie one held a hint of amusement. “Could you take me to see him?”

Ji Jiusheng’s condition couldn’t withstand any shocks right now. Though Song Qian didn’t want to doubt someone who had helped her so many times, a little caution never hurt. She hesitated before asking, “Can I ask what your relationship is with Uncle Ji, Senior Liu?”

Liu Changsheng blinked, then chuckled at the clear wariness in Song Qian’s eyes. “Little girl, you’re quite guarded.”

“It seems he’s been good to you.” She nodded to herself, as if confirming her own words. “That makes sense. For him to entrust his most beloved little sister to you, he must trust you deeply.”

“Back in the day, he didn’t even trust me, his fellow sect disciple.”

“Fellow disciple!?” Song Qian was stunned. She hadn’t realized Uncle Ji and Senior Liu were from the same sect.

Liu Changsheng gave her a faint look. “What, doesn’t seem like it?”

Song Qian shook her head. “No, I just didn’t expect Uncle Ji to be in this line of work too.”

“Hahaha! If he didn’t know these things, how could he have hidden away here alone for over a decade and created a spirit?” Liu Changsheng’s eyes grew misty, and the rest of her words caught in her throat. “He was Master’s proudest disciple.”

The one Master had pinned all his hopes on. And yet he’d abandoned that path, risking everything—even committing the ultimate taboo—to trade his life for a life.

“So, Senior Liu, you didn’t come to Weishui Village entirely because of Qi Buyu, did you?” Song Qian stared at her without fear. Her instincts were sharp, and she felt certain Liu Changsheng had come for Uncle Ji.

Liu Changsheng fell silent and closed her eyes, resuming the turning of her prayer beads.

Song Qian wanted to press further, but Lin Qing and Qi Buyu’s playful laughter echoed from behind her.

It seemed Liu Changsheng wasn’t about to discuss this in front of the other two. Song Qian held her tongue.

With Qi Buyu and Lin Qing chattering nonstop, the meal passed without awkward silence.

~~~

Outside the hospital room, Song Qian repeated her condition. “If Uncle Ji doesn’t want to see you, I won’t let you in.”

Liu Changsheng nodded, promising she wouldn’t force her way.

Song Qian pushed open the door. Ji Jiuge had already left, leaving only the faint tapping of fingers on a screen—Ji Shixing, engrossed in her game.

Sensing someone enter, Ji Shixing glanced up. Her expression froze for a split second when she saw Song Qian, then she turned away silently, not caring that her side-lying position pressed painfully on her chest.

Her ex-girlfriend suddenly becoming her aunt’s wife? Who could accept that—especially when that aunt had died long ago?

Ji Jiusheng had opened his eyes the moment Song Qian entered. He smiled warmly at her and, seeing she had something to say, spoke first. “What’s wrong, Sensen?”

Song Qian held out her palm. A single prayer bead lay quietly in it.

“Uncle Ji, do you know Liu Changsheng?”

Ji Jiusheng’s smile had frozen the instant he spotted the prayer bead. At the sound of Liu Changsheng’s name, his hand clenched tightly at his side.

“You… you’ve seen her?”

Song Qian nodded. “She wants to see you.”

“Uncle Ji, if you don’t want to see Senior Liu, I won’t let her in!” Song Qian’s expression was resolute as she stood protectively by his side.

Her fierce protectiveness drew a soft laugh from Ji Jiusheng. He exhaled slowly, as if reaching a weighty decision, then looked at her. “If she wants to see me, let her come.”

No sooner had the words left his mouth than Liu Changsheng pushed the door open. She had waited so long for this moment.

“Senior Brother.”

“Ji Shixing.” Ji Jiusheng turned to the girl on the next bed, who was trying her best to fade into the background.

“Step out for a bit.”

Ji Shixing set down her phone and pointed at herself in disbelief. She had to leave her own hospital room as a patient!?

Did he have no humanity!?

But she didn’t dare challenge Ji Jiusheng. She got out of bed, grabbed her phone, and shuffled out.

As she passed, she heard him say, “Sensen, you don’t need to go. Just close the door.”

Her teeth ground together. Ji Shixing turned just in time to meet Song Qian’s eyes as she shut the door. Why did Song Qian get to stay!?

“Changsheng, it’s been a long time.” Ji Jiusheng pushed himself up halfway and gestured to the stool beside him. “Have a seat.”

“My health isn’t great these days. I’ll have to trouble you to bear with me… cough cough cough…”

In that instant, Ji Jiusheng seemed to wither before their eyes. Just days ago he’d seemed fine; now, after mere hours, he looked like a long-term invalid on his last legs.

Song Qian poured him some water and set it within reach, then stood quietly to the side.

Seeing him like this, Liu Changsheng’s eyes reddened. She turned away. “Do you regret it?”

Regret stealing the secret manual? Regret betraying the sect? Regret… leaving them?

Ji Jiusheng understood. His sunken, shadowed eyes remained as bright and resolute as ever. “Changsheng, I don’t regret it. No matter what end awaits me, I never will.”

Liu Changsheng let out a scoffing laugh, turned back to look at him, then at Song Qian. “Because you succeeded, right?”

“The moment I laid eyes on that jade spirit, I saw your shadow in her. You two really do resemble each other.” Liu Changsheng bowed her head, fat teardrops splashing onto the back of her hand. “Senior Brother, I hated you for so long. I had a whole litany of curses saved up. But seeing you like this… I can’t bring myself to say them.”

Ji Jiusheng kept smiling. “I know. You should hate me. Master… should hate me too.”

At the mention of Master, a shadow crossed his eyes. The one he’d failed most was that kindly old man who’d treated him so well. He’d dashed all his hopes.

Liu Changsheng wiped her tears. “You’re wrong this time. Master doesn’t hate you.”

Ji Jiusheng’s gaze wavered, disbelief flickering through it. “How could he not…”

He’d stolen the secret manual—a grave taboo. How could Master not hate him?

“You were his most cherished disciple. Whenever he spoke of you, it was always with regret, never anger.”

Ji Jiusheng tilted his head back, but the tears still slipped from the corners of his eyes. He covered his face, unable to stifle his sobs.

Song Qian grew concerned. The doctor had warned against emotional ups and downs.

“Uncle Ji…”

“It’s fine.” Ji Jiusheng took the tissue Song Qian offered and wiped his eyes. They shone with joy. He’d thought he’d carry his guilt toward the sect and Master to his grave, but here was Liu Changsheng telling him Master held no grudge.

“Senior Brother, you need to take better care of yourself. This place isn’t suitable.” Liu Changsheng could see his body was at its limit—like a bowstring stretched to breaking. A better hospital might buy him more time.

“Changsheng, I have a favor to ask.” Ji Jiusheng looked to his youngest sect sister. Back in the sect, he’d always treated her like a little sister. Though they hadn’t seen each other in over a decade, he trusted she wouldn’t refuse.

“What is it, Senior Brother?”

Ji Jiusheng’s lips curved faintly as he pointed at Song Qian.

“Her?” Liu Changsheng was puzzled. The jade spirit was already formed. What more could she do?

“I want you to take Sensen as your disciple.”

“What?”

“Huh?”

Song Qian and Liu Changsheng stared at each other, equally shocked.

Liu Changsheng was barely past thirty, powerful as she was, but she’d never taken a disciple.

“Senior Brother, if you’re worried about her, I can give her some prayer beads or talisman paper. Taking a disciple is too hasty.”

Song Qian hadn’t imagined she’d ever get involved in this world. She nodded vigorously. It was too sudden.

Ji Jiusheng shook his head and glanced at his withered hand. “If I weren’t half-dead and about to kick the bucket, why would I trouble you, little sister?” His voice grew even feebler as he gazed pleadingly at Liu Changsheng.

Liu Changsheng: “…” Maybe she shouldn’t have come today.

“Sensen, if you don’t want to join our sect, I won’t force you. But you’re already a Spirit Nurturer now, and those things are bound to come knocking. I’m just afraid you’ll run into danger without any way to protect yourself.” Ji Jiusheng clutched his head, looking utterly frustrated. “It’s all my fault. I never should have let you become a Spirit Nurturer. Uncle Ji has dragged you into this mess.”

Seeing him so downcast and full of self-reproach, Song Qian had no idea it was all an act. All she could think about was how to comfort him.

“Don’t say that, Uncle Ji. I need to learn some real skills. Otherwise, I won’t just be unable to protect myself—I won’t be able to protect Ji Wuxin either.”

Liu Changsheng watched Ji Jiusheng with a complicated expression. The man on the bed winked at her.

“If Senior Liu doesn’t mind, I’d like to take you as my master!” Song Qian stood ramrod straight. She had no idea what the proper etiquette for taking a master was, so she just tried to look as serious and earnest as possible.

Seeing that Liu Changsheng wasn’t responding and seemed to still be hesitating, Ji Jiusheng added, “Changsheng, Sensen’s a promising talent. Anyone who can nurture spirits is a natural at drawing talismans and setting up formations. She won’t bring shame to you.”

A vein throbbed at Liu Changsheng’s temple. If she didn’t accept this disciple today, she was genuinely afraid her sickly senior brother might keel over from sheer exasperation.

“Since my senior brother has spoken…”

Liu Changsheng pressed two fingers to her heart, swiftly chanting something under her breath. With her other hand, she rapidly spun her prayer beads. After several rotations, they came to an abrupt halt.

She removed one bead and handed it to Song Qian.

“Keep this for now. I’ll pick an auspicious day when I get back, and we’ll do the formal apprenticeship ceremony.”

Song Qian reached out to take it. “Thank you, Senior Liu!”

Liu Changsheng didn’t let go. “Still calling me ‘Senior’?”

Song Qian caught on immediately. “Thank you, Master!”

Liu Changsheng kept her expression neutral, but the corners of her mouth curved up involuntarily. So this was what it felt like to have a disciple.

Ji Jiusheng watched the whole scene with a smile, but seeing his little junior sister—whom he hadn’t laid eyes on in over a decade—now all grown up brought a fresh wave of bitterness to his eyes.

It had been over ten years, after all.

~~~